Flexagons and kaleidocycles are interesting things you can make with paper or card. They are in my maths category because they both have interesting maths associated with them, but I have made a flexagon reasonably successfully in a year 1 Art class, without going into the maths.

Flexagons

I think the simplest flexagon is the hexaflexagon, which ends up being hexagonal and flat - but it has three sides, not two! Very clever. You can read the Flexagon page on Wikipedia, and the easiest instructions I've found are on the Let's Make a Flexagon page at britton.disted.camosun.bc.ca. This page includes a colourful flexagon template too.

There is a program for Windows (so I haven't had a chance to try it) which should make photo flexagons! You can find it on the Foto-TriHexaflexagon page.

After much searching I found a website that will make a photo flexagon for you, or you can download a Python program to do it on your own computer. See http://www.modarnis.com/flexagon/index.phtml

Kaleidocycles

Kaleidocycles are 3D objects you make with paper folding. There is a pretty amazing site that lets you make a kaleidocycle with photos on it. If you want to make a plain paper kaleidocycle (although light card probably works best) then the kaleidocycle YouTube instructions from Arvind Gupta are great, especially since no glue or tape is required.

I have not tried to make kaleidocycles in year 1, I think the measuring and folding is probably a little advanced, although it could be done with patience.